Spray dispenser



1966 A. EDELSTEIN ETAL 3,228,609

SPRAY DISPENSER Filed May 26, 1964 Flg. E

/ INVENTORS 7 ALBERT EDELSTEIN 39 y ARV/D N- momonskr 6O Fig a 22 35 41 ix 38 42 ATTOR United States Patent Oflice 3,228,609 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 York Filed May 26, 1964, Ser. No. 370,191

Claims. (Cl. 2370) The present invention relates generally to improvements in spray dispensing devices and it relates particularly to an improved apparatus for automatically periodically actuating the dispensing valve of a vessel containing a fluid under superatmospherlc pressure.

It is a common practice to package many materials under pressure in vessels containing normally closed dispensing valves as typified by the widely employed aerosol containers. The packaged material usually includes a vaporizable liquid material admixed with a liquified gas aerosol propellent such as many of the fluorinated hydrocarbons, for example, trichloromonofluoromethane and dichlorodiiluoromethane. This method of packaging is :widely employed in connection with the dispensmg of deodorants, air purifying agents, germicides, ant1septics and similar active agents. Since these active agents are usually dissipated a short time after their application, to be continuously effective they are advantageously periodically dispensed. In US. Patent No. 2,613,108, granted October 7, 1952, there is described a device for successively actuating the valve of an aerosol container at timed intervals to periodically dispense a predetermined quantity of the pressure packaged active material. While this device is highly satisfactory, particularly when employed in public and commercial areas such as theaters, auditoriums, store rooms, hospitals, public conveyances, restaurants, hotels and the like, it possesses some drawbacks when employed domestically such as in various areas in and around the home. The aforesaid device is relatively bulky and expensive and somewhat complicated to employ for normal domestic use.

Recently, nasal decongestants have been packaged in pressurized aerosol containers for spray application into the atmosphere. The containers are actuated manually, and while being effective for decongestant purposes over short periods, their effectiveness would be greatly increased if they were operated periodically and automatically over long periods, for example, during the entire night while the user is sleeping. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a periodic actuator unit for household use so that decongestants may be thus administered in the manner of a steam vaporizer. A household unit of this type would also be advantageously employed for other purposes in the home, for example, in spraying insecticides around patios or the like.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved spray dispensing device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for automatically periodically actuating the dispensing valve of an aerosol container.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved automatic spray dispensing device in which the charge of material which is to be sprayed may be easily and rapidly replenished.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved spray dispensing device of the above nature characterized by its reliability, compactness, simplicity, versatility and low cost.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the support frame and housing of a spray dispensing device embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the improved spray dispensing device with the cover portion removed, and showing in phantom the position of a mounted aerosol container and the various operative positions of the motivating arm;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the spray dispensing device with the cover portion broken away and with an aerosol container mounted thereon, the container and its valve being illustrated in non-actuated position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the spray dispensing device similar to the view of FIG. 3, but showing the container in its actuated, valve-open condition, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a spray dispensing device for use in combination with a pressure vessel containing a fluid under superatmospheric pressure and having a normally-closed valve member provided with an upstanding valve stem which is tilt-able to a valve open position, the device comprising a platform member supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position and limiting the forward movement of the base thereof, a member releasably engaging said valve stem and limiting the forward movement thereof, an actuating member registering with the upper rear part of said vessel and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, and motor means periodically urging said actuating member forwardly to tilt said vessel relative to said valve stem whereby to open said valve. 7

According to a preferred form of the improved spray dispensing device, there is provided a housing in which the vessel supporting platform is directed forwardly of the housing base and terminates in an upwardly projecting lip, and the valve stem engaging member comprises a horizontal plate hinged along its rear edge to the upper part of the housing and having an aperture formed therein registering with the valve stem. The actuating member is a bifurcated resilient element hinged for rocking about a horizontal axis and including a first arm movable into engagement with the upper rear wall of the pressure container and an integrally-formed diverging r second arm terminating in a rearwardly outwardly inclined section. A motivating arm terminating in a cam section is continuously rotated by the motor about a horizontal axis and traverses a path in which thecam section periodically engages the second arm to compress and load the actuating member arms whereby the first arm periodically bears on and tilts the pressure container to eifect the opening of the dispenser valve.

Referring now to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved spray dispensing device which is employed in combination with a valved aerosol dispensing container 11 of well known construction. The aerosol container 11 includes a cylindrical pressure vessel 12 having the usual upper and lower beaded rims 13 and 14 respectively and a domed upper wall 16. The upper wall 16 supports a dispensing valve which comprises an upwardly directed tubular valve stem 17 provided with an upper nozzle or cap member 18 having a bore formed therein communicating with the tubular valve stem 17 and terminating in a forwardly directed fine spray aperture 15.

The aerosol dispensing valve is of the type which is normally resiliently closed and which may be opened by tilting the valve stem 17 relative to the pressure vessel 12, thereby affording communication with the vessel interior through the valve stem 17 and the nozzle 18. The pressure vessel 12 contains an active fluid material under super-atmospheric pressure. Advantageously, the active fluid material is admixed with a liquified gas as typified by the aerosol propellants identified above and available under the Freon and Genetron trademarks. The active fluid material may be any suitable deodorant, antiseptic, germicide, decongestant, insecticide, or the like.

The spray dispensing device functions automatically and periodically to actuate the aerosol dispensing valve by eifecting the relative tilting of the valve stem 17 by the tilting of the pressure vessel 12, thereby periodically opening the valve and dispensing a short or momentary spray. The device 10 comprises a C-shaped frame member 19 formed of sheet metal or the like and includes a vertical rectangular rear wall 20 and integrally formed top and bottom forwardly directed horizontal walls 21 and 22 respectively, the walls 20, 21 and 22 being reinforced by integrally formed longitudinally inwardly directed end flanges 23. Projecting forwardly of the bottom wall 22 and integrally formed and coplanar therewith is a support platform 24 terminating in a curved leading edge 26 provided with an upstanding lip 27. The bottom wall flanges 23 extend along the sides of the platform 24.

Mounted between the top and bottom frame walls 21 and 22, is a rectangular vertical partition wall disposed forwardly of and parallel to the rear wall 20 and extending between the top and bottom walls 21 and 22. The upper corners of the partition wall 25 are cut away as at 28 and the upper edge of the partition wall 25 terminates in a forwardly directed flange 29 which abuts the underface of the top wall 21 and is aflixed thereto by rivets 30, as shown in FIG. 4. Projecting forwardly from the upper right border of the partition wall 25 is a horizontal ear or bracket 31.

The internal parts of the device 10 are enclosed by a cover portion 32 which is C-shaped incross section and is formed by a front wall 33 and integral side walls 34, which project rearwardly from the vertical edges of the front wall 33. An aperture 35 is located in the upper section of front wall 33 intermediate its side edges. The cover portion 32 is removably mounted on the assembly by sliding the side walls 34 rearwardly between the flanges 23 of the top and bottom walls 21 and 22 until the ends of the side walls 34 slide between the flanges 23 of the rear wall 20 and abut said rear wall. In this mounted position, the front wall 33 is spaced a short distance forwardlyof the partition wall 25 and is parallel thereto.

A valve actuating member 38 is pivotally supported by the bracket 36 at the level of the pressure vessel bead 13 for rocking about a vertical axis. The valve actuating member 38 is formed of a resilient material such as spring metal strip and comprises a pair of normally diverging front and rear arms 39 and 40 respectively, joined at their trailing ends by an integrally formed knuckle section 41. The knuckle section 41 is engaged by a pivot pin 42 vaflixed to and depending from the bracket 31 and provided with an enlarged head 43 underlying the knuckle section 41. The front arm 39 terminates at its leading end in a forwardly-directed leg 44 extending toward and adapted to engage and bear against the rear section of the container bead 13. The rear arm 40 terminates at its free end in an outwardly and rearwardly-inclined section 45, the rear face of which defines a cam surface.

Located within the cover portion 32 and suitably mounted on the upper inner face of the partition wall 25 is a slow speed electric timing motor 47 of conventional construction and provided with a drive shaft 48 projecting forwardly through the partition wall 25 and having a flattened side. The timing motor 47 may be connected to asource of current by means of an electric cord 49 extending through a grommet-protected opening 46 in the side wall 34 and terminating in an electric plug 50. The

motor shaft 48 may rotate at any desired speed depending on the desired frequency of the di pensing Valve tuation, for example between one and ten minutes per revolution.

Located along the forward face of the partition 25 and affixed to and rotatable with the timing motor shaft 48 is a loading or motivating arm 51 which includes a hub 52 having a bore mating and firmly engaging the motor shaft 48. Extending radially from the hub 52 is an arm 53 which terminates in a cam section 54 having a forwardly directed cam surface 55 inclined rearwardly in the direction of advance of the cam section 54, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 of the drawing. It should be noted that when the motivating arm 51 is rotated, the cam section 54 traverses a path which registers with the rear surface of the actuating member cam section 45 only along the upper part of said path, and that the remainder of the actuating arm 38 is outside the area of movement of the motivating arm 51.

A horizontal locking plate 56 of substantially triangular configuration has a forwardly directed apex 57 and is hinged along its rear edge to the front border of the top wall 21 in any suitable manner such as by means of a pair of cars 58 depending from the rear corners of the plate 56 and registering with corresponding slots formed in the top wall 21. The plate 56 is swingable between a horizontal lock position and an upwardly-raised forwardly inclined unlock position, as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing, being limited in its downward swinging movement by the leading edge of the top wall 21 engaging the underface of the plate 56. Formed in the apex of the plate 56 is an aperture 59 which releasably engages the valve stem cap 18 when the plate 56 is in its depressed position to limit the forward movement of the valve stem 17.

Considering now the operation of the spray dispensing device 10 described above, with the actuating and motivating members 38 and 51 out of engagement, a tilt valve aerosol container 11 is inserted in the dispensing device 10 by raising the plate 56, positioning the container 11 on the platform 24 with the nozzle opening 15 directed forwardly and then releasing the plate 56 to its depressed position with the aperture 59 engaging the cap 18 at a point below the nozzle opening 15. In the inserted position of the container 11, the bottom bead 14 substantially abuts the forward lip 27 which functions as a pivot point for the container 11. The rear portion of head 14 engages the lower end of front wall 33.

The timing motor 47 is then energized by connecting it to a source of electric current by means of the plug 50 to thereby effect the rotation of the shaft 48 and the motivating arm 51 in a counterclockwise direction. As the arm cam section 54 traverses the upper part of its path it engages and travels along the rear inclined face of the actuating arm cam section 45, swings the actuating member 38 to bring the leg 44 into engagement with the container bead 13 through the front wall aperture 35, and thereafter urges the rear arm 40 further forward to compress or contract the resiliently related arms 39 and 40 and thus load the actuating member 38. As the cam section 54 approaches the end of its path along the arm section 45, the loading of the actuating member 38 is sufficient to effect the forward tilting of the vessel 12 about the lip 27 which results in the relative rear tipping of the valve stem 17 which is restricted by the lock plate 56 to thereby open the aerosol container dispensing valve and cause the emission of an aerosol spray. Very shortly thereafter the cam section 54 passes the end of the rear arm 45, releasing the actuating member 38 and permitting the vessel 12 and the valve stem 17 to return to their upright positions and the actuating arm to return to its retracted unloaded position. As a consequence, the aerosol dispensing valve is returned to its closed position so that a momentary aerosol spray is effected. The valve opening and spray emission cycle is repeated with each r0ta tion of the motivating arm 51.

Upon depletion of the contents of the aerosol container 11, it may be replaced by a full container merely by raising the locking plate 56, removing the depleted container 11, replacing it with a fresh container and dropping the plate 56 to its lock position as aforesaid. The dispensing evice may be positioned wherever desired and to this end may be provided along the underface of the bottom wall with foot pieces or pads 60 of rubber or other suitable material. The spray dispensing rate depends on the speed of the timing motor 4'7 and the shapes, dimensions and relationships of the various components of the actuating member 38 and motivating arm 51 and the dispensing rate may be adjusted by varying one or more of these parameters.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A spray dispensing device for use in combination with a pressure vessel containing a fluid under superatmospheric pressure and having a normally closed valve member provided with an upstanding valve stem which is tiltable to a valve open position comprising a platform member supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position and limiting the forward movement of the base thereof, a member releasably engaging said valve stem and limiting the forward movement thereof, a compressible actuating member having an arm portion registering with the upper rear part of said vessel and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto, and slow speed motor means periodically engaging and gradually compressing said actuating member for urging said actuating member arm portion forwardly to tilt said vessel relative to said valve stem whereby to periodically open said valve.

2. A spray dispensing device for use in combination with a pressure vessel containing a fluid under superatmospheric pressure and having a normally closed valve member provided with an upstanding valve stem which is tiltable to a valve open position comprising a platform member supporting said pressure vessel in an upright po sition and limiting the forward movement of the base thereof, a member releasably engaging said valve stem and limiting the forward movement thereof, an actuating member having an actuating portion registering with the upper rear part of said vessel and movably forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto and an energy storage portion connected to an adapted to advance said actuating portion in a forward direction, and means including a timing motor gradually and periodically loading said energy storage portion whereby to periodically tilt said vessel relative to said valve stem and periodically open said valve.

3. A spray dispensing device for use in combination with a pressure vessel containing a fluid under superatmospheric pressure and having a normally closed valve member provided with an upstanding valve stem which is tiltable to a valve open position comprising a platform member supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position and limiting the forward movement of the base thereof, a member releasably engaging said valve stem and limiting the forward movement thereof, an actuating member having an actuating arm registering with the upper rear part of said vessel and movable forwardly and rearwardly relative thereto and a spring arm connected to said actuating arm for urging the latter against said pressure vessel, and motor driven means for periodically loading said spring arm, said motor driven means comprising an arm rotatable about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said pressure vessel and carrying cam means periodically engaging and compressing said spring arm.

4. A spray dispensing device for use in combination with a pressure vessel containing a fluid under superatmospheric pressure and having a normally closed valve member provided with an upstanding valve stem which is tiltable to a valve open position comprising a platform member supporting said pressure vessel in an upright position and limiting the forward movement of the base thereof, a member releasably engaging said valve stem and limiting the forward movement thereof, a bifurcated actuating member rockably supported at an end thereof and including a pair of first and second normally resiliently diverging spring legs, said first leg confronting and adapted to bear on the upper rear face of said pressure vessel, an arm rotatable along a path registering with said second arm and adapted to engage the rear face thereof, and a timing motor rotating said second arm whereby to periodically compress said bifurcated legs and tilt said pressure receptacle to effect the opening of said valve.

5. The spray dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said actuating member first leg terminates in a forwardly directed end section movable into engagement with said pressure vessel rear face.

6. The spray dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said actuating member second leg terminates in a rearwardly outwardly inclined section.

7. The spray dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said rotatable arm is provided with a cam surface movable into engagement with said actuating member second leg.

8. The spray dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said actuating member is rockable about a vertical axis and said arm is rotatable about a horizontal axis.

9. The spray dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said valve stem engaging member comprises a plate hinged along its trailing edge for swinging about a horizontal axis and having an aperture formed therein engaging said valve stem.

10. A spray dispensing device for use in combination with a pressure vessel containing fluid under superatmospheric pressure and having a normally closed valve member provided with an upstanding valve stem which is tiltable to a valve open position comprising a support frame comprising a rear wall and forwardly directed top and bottom walls, said bottom wall terminating in a forwardly directed platform provided with an upwardly projecting front lip and said pressure vessel resting on said platform directly rearwardly of said front lip, a locking plate hinged to said top wall and projecting forwardly thereof and having an aperture formed therein engaging said valve stem, means including a vertical front wall disposed forwardly of said rear wall and delineating a housing therewith, a bracket mounted adjacent the upper corner of said front wall, a bifurcated resilient actuating member pivoted to said bracket for rocking about a vertical axis and including a first leg having a free end registering with the upper rear face of said pressure vessel and a normally diverging second leg terminating in a rearwardly out wardly inclined section, a timing motor mounted in said housing and including a forwardly directed drive shaft, and a radially extending arm aflixed to said shaft and rotatable along a path in registry with said second leg inclined section whereby to periodically engage the rear face thereof and compress and load said resilient actuating member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,967,643 1/ 1961 Edelstein et al 239-70 2,980,296 4/1961 Edelstein et al 220--7O 2,991,912 7/1961 Thomas et al 23970 3,018,056 1/1962 Montgomery 23970 3,045,873 7/ 1962 Ryan 222--162 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

R. S. STROBEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SPRAY DISPENSING DEVICE FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A PRESSURE VESSEL CONTAINING A FLUID UNDER SUPERATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE MEMBER PROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING VALVE STEM WHICH IS TILTABLE TO A VALVE OPEN POSITION COMPRISING A PLATFORM MEMBER SUPPORTING SAID PRESSURE VESSEL IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION AND LIMITING THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BASE THEREOF, A MEMBER RELEASABLY ENGAGING SAID VALVE STEM AND LIMITING THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BASE IBLE ACTUATING MEMBER HAVING AN ARM PORTION REGISTERING WITH THE UPPER REAR PART OF SAID VESSEL AND MOVABLE FORWARDLY AND REARWARDLY RELATIVE THERETO, AND SLOW SPEED MOTOR MEANS PERIODICALLY ENGAGING AND GRADUALLY COMPRESSING SAID ACTUATING MEMBER FOR URGING SAID ACTUATING MEMBER ARM PORTION FORWARDLY TO TILT SAID VESSEL RELATIVE TO SAID VALVE STEM WHEREBY TO PERIODICALLY OPEN SAID VALVE. 